Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Collins, CO
VS
New York, NY
🏆 Fort Collins leads 17 of 23 categories
Fort Collins
Colorado
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,977 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
168,758
New York
New York
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,607
Violent Crime Index
177⚠ High
Population
8,622,467 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Collins, CO
Pros
59% less violent crime than New York
Homes cost $235k less ($497,400 vs $732,100)
Commutes run 21 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (5.3%)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than New York
More college-educated — 58.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
New York, NY
Pros
Smaller class sizes — 12.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $732,100
Violent crime (671.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Fort Collins
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Collins
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 96.6 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Fort Collins
Median Income
$2,370
$78,977 vs $76,607/yr
Fort Collins
Violent Crime
59% lower
272.7 vs 671.0 per 100k
Fort Collins
Median Home Value
$235k less
$497,400 vs $732,100
Fort Collins
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
5.3% vs 7.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Collins, CO | New York, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.6 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $497,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $732,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,576⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,714⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,977 ✓ Higher | $76,607 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.3 min ✓ Shorter | 41.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 17.7% ✓ Higher | 13.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 151⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 177⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 113⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (113) ✓ Better | B+ (108) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.7:1 | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.3% ✓ Higher | 40.2% |
| High School or Higher | 97.1% ✓ Higher | 83.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Poudre School District R-1 | NEW YORK CITY GEOGRAPHIC DISTRICT # 2 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 45.0°F ✓ Warmer | 39.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.4°F ✓ Warmer | 84.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.4" ✓ Drier | 47.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.3" | 24.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 168,758 | 8,622,467 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.1 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.7% ✓ Higher | 32.9% |
| Under 18 | 16.9% | 20.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.6% | 15.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Collins's cost of living index is 96.6 vs New York's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Fort Collins is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Collins leads 17 of 23 categories. Fort Collins wins 17 and New York wins 6. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Fort Collins to New York or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($497,400 vs $732,100 median home), income ($78,977 vs $76,607), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Collins, CO and New York, NY are about 1,624 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.